Mysuru: Accusing the BJP of utilising Surgical Strikes for political advantage, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader...

Mysuru: Accusing the BJP of utilising Surgical Strikes for political advantage, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader Siddaramiah on Friday said that Congress had never utilised about 12-13 surgical strikes during UPA government for political purpose. Speaking to newsmen here, he said that "when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister the country had won the war against Pakistan. It was a bigger surgical strike but never utilised it for political advantage. BJP does politics on cow slaughter, Ram Mandir and other issues, but does not discuss about Farmers suicide and the lives of poor people". Stating that all MPs of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) including Pratap Simha has done any work worth mentioning. Can any BJP MP come forward and discuss about development with Congress Lok Sabha member R Dhruvanarayan? Will Shobha Karandlaje come? Will Nalin Kumar Kateel and Ananth Kumar Hegde come? They are simply running around from one place to another and spreading lies," he alleged. "Where was Pratap Simha when Mahadevappa developed Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway?

What is his contribution to Mysuru? Now he keeps claiming that the works we did as his," He added. Referring to Tumakur Lok Sabha seat which was given to collation partner JDS, he said he will discuss the issue with AICC General SecretaryVenugopal, who is incharge of party's Karnataka Affairs. He said that he will tour all the 28 Lok Sabha Constituencies in the State and campaign for victory of candidates of Coalition partners. I will not divide Hassan and Mandya. The Congress will win 20 seats. There is no misunderstanding among Coalition party leaders. "A Manju is not quitting Congress. I have discussed with him. Mahadevappa is also with us," he clarified. "I won't speak anything about Sumalatha Ambareesh. She is not contesting from Coalition party. She is still in our party. We have given Mandya Lok Sabha Constituency to Janata Dal (Secular). Everything else is left to them. They announced Nikhil Kumaraswamy as the candidate on Thursday," he added. Responding to BJP State Vice President V Srinivas Prasad planning to contest from Chamarajanagar, he said everyone is free to contest the LS elections from anywhere. It is their individual choice and I won't comment on it. He said that the Congress party will announce list of candidates to all the 20 Lok Sabha seats in the State shortly.